The increasing use of artificial intelligence in workplaces will require organizations to develop structured approaches for human-AI collaboration, according to research firm Gartner. Speaking at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Barcelona, analysts outlined four possible scenarios for integrating AI into business operations and workforce management.
Gartner stated that AI will not cause a large-scale elimination of jobs but will lead to substantial changes in job structures and functions. Between 2028 and 2029, an estimated 32 million roles per year will need to be redesigned, merged, or split due to AI-driven transformation. The firm forecasts that about 150,000 jobs will evolve daily through upskilling, while 70,000 will be rewritten or restructured.
Helen Poitevin, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, said that leaders should align AI investments with workforce strategies to anticipate these shifts. According to Poitevin, organizations must decide whether to prioritize “human-first” designs, focused on supporting employees in their work, or “AI-first” designs, which emphasize automation and efficiency.
Gartner’s report identifies four models that describe potential relationships between human and AI roles in the workplace:
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Fewer workers doing tasks AI cannot perform: Employees focus on areas where AI remains ineffective, such as complex customer interactions.
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AI-first enterprises with minimal human involvement: High automation levels reduce the number of workers needed to operate business functions.
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Workers using AI to enhance productivity: Employees integrate AI tools to improve speed and accuracy while maintaining traditional work structures.
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Collaborative innovation between humans and AI: Workers and AI systems jointly develop new solutions, such as in personalized medicine and interdisciplinary research.
Poitevin noted that business leaders should be prepared for elements of all four models to emerge simultaneously across different functions. She emphasized that future organizational performance will depend on how effectively humans and AI systems collaborate, rather than on workforce size alone. Gartner concluded that adopting flexible approaches to human-AI collaboration will be essential for managing the long-term effects of automation and digital transformation.
